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Blues legend Glenn Lazarus has hailed NSW captain Paul Gallen’s State of Origin blinder on Wednesday night as one of the greatest in history.
Playing in the front row for the first time, Gallen was absolutely mighty in becoming the first NSW prop since Lazarus in 1996 to spend all 80 minutes on the park.
The Cronulla war horse trucked the ball an amazing 234 metres and effected 30 tackles to inspire the Blues’s series-levelling 18-8 triumph at ANZ Stadium.
“For a front rower to play 80 minutes these days in Origin, with the way it is played at such a frenetic pace, is unheard of,” Lazarus told AAP in the jubilant NSW dressing room.
“I just think being the captain, leading by example and all that sort of thing, he set a very high standard in the way he played.
“There wasn’t a period there where we even thought ‘oh, we better get him off’. He just kept coming and coming. It’s an absolute tribute to the man the way he played.
“It’s got to be right up there with the best performances ever.”
NSW coach Ricky Stuart lauded Gallen as equal in value to the Blues as Queensland’s superstar backs Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston are to the Maroons.
Lazarus couldn’t disagree.
“It’s a performance that fans mightn’t have noticed. They notice all the lairy backs, but for a guy to play such a physical game and continually cart that ball up and make tackles is an absolute tribute to the guy,” he said.
“He’s the consummate professional and I think he’s a wonderful choice as captain too.”
Gallen modestly deflected the praise.
“I don’t have freakish ability. I just think if I work hard, I can do things on the field and that’s where my strength lies,” he said.
“I know in my head when I get out there, I can push through anything.”
NSW’s three-tries-to-one victory set up a series decider at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 6.
Trying to avoid a sixth consecutive series defeat, the Blues had heroes all over the park.
Interchange forwards Luke Lewis and Anthony Watmough were inspirational off the bench, while back-rower Beau Scott bravely played 65 minutes with a perforated ear drum.
Veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello was dynamic in his first Origin game in six years and scored the match-sealing try and teenage centre Will Hopoate put the Blues in front for the first time early in the second half with a brilliant finish on debut.
The Maroons led 8-6 at halftime after completing a perfect 19 from 19 sets, but were powerless to stop the Blues juggernaut after the interval.
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